Go to the BRRHS home page: http://www.brrsd.net/curric/HS/library/index.html
On Left sidebar - Select HS Library
You will be directed to the BRRHS Library Webpage, where you can view a list of all the Subscription Databases. Click on the link to the database that you want to search and enter the User ID and Password in the login page.
ID: nj08807
Password: panthers
You may also access selected BRRHS databases through the links below:
Books To find books in the BRRHS, you need to use the Spectrum Online Catalog:Click on the icon on your PC desktop for Spectrum Patron's Catalog. Spectrum automatically opens to the Easy Search Screen. If you type a word or a phrase in the search bar, a complete listing of books will appear on the screen. You can combine terms in the Expanded Search Screen using AND, OR and AND NOT connectors: these are called Boolean Operators. You can obtain instructions on how to use these terms to refine your search by going to this site: Boolean Operators
Clicking on the tabs at the top of the results screen will sort by call number, title, author, or date. Sorting by call number will show you areas of the library where the books will be found. While holding down the Control key, sort through the books using the mouse to highlight the books you want to print in your bibliography. Clicking on the print button will open the print option window. Type in your name and choose the Highlighted button to print your selected list. The list of books printed will have all of the elements you need to write an MLA citation (however, you will need to edit the information to assure that it follows all required MLA standards) .
When searching for people, remember to use their last name as the subject.
When searching for a book on your topic, do not expect an entire book to always be devoted to your specific interest. It is often the case that you will need to think broader; that is, look for books that have titles that describe an area that may encompass your topic. For example, the topic:
poaching may be found in a book on hunting;
music downloading may be found in a book on Internet piracy; or
year-round school sessions may be found in books on education policy.
Reference Books: Just about every topic has a specialized encyclopedia. These encyclopedias are usually quite extensive in their coverage and may be used for your research paper. They are not the same as general encyclopedias, such as World Book Encyclopedia, which may be good for background information, but often will not be accepted by teachers as a cited source for a formal research paper. These books will have a call number starting with REF and can be found in the low shelves in the Library. Find an encyclopedia that broadly covers your topic. Not all special encyclopedias organize information alphabetically; you may need to look-up your topic in the index. Public Library
Somerset County Library’s On-line Catalog
Check the “Webpac” catalog to see what they own on your topic. Reserve materials by typing in the Barcode number from your
Somerset County Library Card.
Suggested Databases:
All of these databases can be also be accessed from the Library Website. The following databases present pro/con views on various topics:
SIRS
Use the Leading Issues list to search the most popular topics: when you view the results, you are provided with a Topic Overview. Expand this article to view a summary of the key issues on this subject. Select the tabs below (Statistics, Timeline) to obtain more information on the topic and (Research Guides, Note Organizer) to access guides to doing your research and writing your paper. Look at "Pro/Con Issues & Essential Questions" to see the arguments on either side of these more specific areas. Look at the Interactive option to further educate yourself on the topic. Change the "Sort" of the articles provided by: Relevance (how closely the article matches your search term), Date, or Format (magazine, View Point, Eeference). Look at the "See Also" topics for narrower categories under this broad topic.
Use the Quick Search text box to search by a Keyword/Natural Language (articles retrieved will have those exact words somewhere in the article) or by Subject Heading (articles retrieved will be those categorized under an index term, shown in a box above the list of articles).
You can use the Advanced Search feature to combine terms to narrow your search (i.e., by specifying specific fields for your search term or by using Boolean Operators).
Look at the "Go To" box on the right side of page for Citation format.
Opposing Viewpoints
Browse the Popular Topics list to obtain overviews of top issues. Select the tabs (View Points, Reference, Magazines) to view lists of different types of articles. Select Full Text option to view the complete article and citation.
You can also type your search term into the Basic Search text box and view a list of relevant articles. Review the results list of articles for additional search terms (synonyms or similar terms); look at the Related Subjects box for similar Subject Headings.
Your results list can be viewed by type of publication (i.e., Reference, Newspaper, etc.) by clicking on the appropriate tabs.
You can mark articles by selecting the check-box next to relevant articles and then email or get citations for only these articles. Citation information is at the end of each article.
eLibrary Curriculum: Type your search term into the search box. The "Gallery" provides a broad overview of the topic (click "Expand Document" to view all information).
Look at left side-bar for options to "sort" results in different ways and to expand or narrow your search.
Select "Citation View" to obtain MLA format.
Points of View (Ecsco): Use the Browse by Category topics list. Or enter a keyword in the search box. Select tabs at top of page to view different types of articles (magazines, reference). Citation information is provided at the beginning of each article or by selecting the Citation link.
Explore other databases based upon your topic area.
For instance, if you are interested in Global Warming or Terrorism you may find information in the database "Global Issues in Context" (under Social Studies); or if you are interested in Drug Addiction you may find information in eLibrary Science.
Newspaper databases are likely to provide information on a broad range of topics. Often you will find "first-hand accounts" or primary source information in these publications.
Website Evaluation Guide
Search Engines: Remember that search engines are often part of a profit-generating business, and as such, they may inject the company's bias into your search results, by ranking articles that promote the company's viewpoint higher in the results or even by eliminating certain articles.
(Read this recent article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/opinion/28raff.html?em )
Try using different Search Engines: Search Engines : Alphabetical list of general search engines.
Clusty : Provides a list of related and narrower topics suggestions. Provides a list of links on "Social Issues."
Although many websites are valuable and reliable resources, you must be careful to evaluate the source of information. Some questions to ask yourself are:
· is the website authoritative (is the author an expert on the subject, or just a student posting his class paper on the Internet)?
· is the website accurate?
· is the website up to date?
· is the website biased or prejudiced toward a point of view? (It may still be useful, but use the information cautiously.)
For further suggestions about how to evaluate the quality of a website, go to the BRHS Library’s Website for the Website Evaluation Tools
Print out the questionnaire for your reference!
Feel free to ask the Librarians and your Teachers for guidance with any concerns you may have.
Suggested Websites:
ProConProCon.orgis a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public charity whose mission is "Promoting education, critical thinking, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan primarily pro-con format."
Public Agenda The new PublicAgenda.org is set up to provide both citizens and leaders with the tools they need to tackle tough problems. Note -- this site deals miore with politically-oriented matters instead of personal ones. And it does not use the pro-con format.
Polling Report A site that provides statistics on controversial issues.
Gallup Poll Another site for obtaining information and statistics for controversial issues.
Works Cited
MLA Citation Examples: This link will bring you to the BRRHS Library page, with examples of MLA citation formats.
Controversial Issues
To access the Library's subscription databases:
Go to the BRRHS home page: http://www.brrsd.net/curric/HS/library/index.html
On Left sidebar - Select HS Library
You will be directed to the BRRHS Library Webpage, where you can view a list of all the Subscription Databases. Click on the link to the database that you want to search and enter the User ID and Password in the login page.
ID: nj08807
Password: panthers
You may also access selected BRRHS databases through the links below:
Books
To find books in the BRRHS, you need to use the Spectrum Online Catalog:Click on the icon on your PC desktop for Spectrum Patron's Catalog.
Spectrum automatically opens to the Easy Search Screen. If you type a word or a phrase in the search bar, a complete listing of books will appear on the screen. You can combine terms in the Expanded Search Screen using AND, OR and AND NOT connectors: these are called Boolean Operators. You can obtain instructions on how to use these terms to refine your search by going to this site: Boolean Operators
Clicking on the tabs at the top of the results screen will sort by call number, title, author, or date. Sorting by call number will show you areas of the library where the books will be found. While holding down the Control key, sort through the books using the mouse to highlight the books you want to print in your bibliography. Clicking on the print button will open the print option window. Type in your name and choose the Highlighted button to print your selected list. The list of books printed will have all of the elements you need to write an MLA citation (however, you will need to edit the information to assure that it follows all required MLA standards) .
When searching for people, remember to use their last name as the subject.
When searching for a book on your topic, do not expect an entire book to always be devoted to your specific interest. It is often the case that you will need to think broader; that is, look for books that have titles that describe an area that may encompass your topic. For example, the topic:
Reference Books:
Just about every topic has a specialized encyclopedia. These encyclopedias are usually quite extensive in their coverage and may be used for your research paper. They are not the same as general encyclopedias, such as World Book Encyclopedia, which may be good for background information, but often will not be accepted by teachers as a cited source for a formal research paper. These books will have a call number starting with REF and can be found in the low shelves in the Library. Find an encyclopedia that broadly covers your topic. Not all special encyclopedias organize information alphabetically; you may need to look-up your topic in the index.
Public Library
Somerset County Library’s On-line Catalog
Check the “Webpac” catalog to see what they own on your topic. Reserve materials by typing in the Barcode number from your
Somerset County Library Card.
Suggested Databases:
All of these databases can be also be accessed from the Library Website.The following databases present pro/con views on various topics:
SIRS
Use the Leading Issues list to search the most popular topics: when you view the results, you are provided with a Topic Overview. Expand this article to view a summary of the key issues on this subject. Select the tabs below (Statistics, Timeline) to obtain more information on the topic and (Research Guides, Note Organizer) to access guides to doing your research and writing your paper. Look at "Pro/Con Issues & Essential Questions" to see the arguments on either side of these more specific areas. Look at the Interactive option to further educate yourself on the topic. Change the "Sort" of the articles provided by: Relevance (how closely the article matches your search term), Date, or Format (magazine, View Point, Eeference). Look at the "See Also" topics for narrower categories under this broad topic.
Use the Quick Search text box to search by a Keyword/Natural Language (articles retrieved will have those exact words somewhere in the article) or by Subject Heading (articles retrieved will be those categorized under an index term, shown in a box above the list of articles).
You can use the Advanced Search feature to combine terms to narrow your search (i.e., by specifying specific fields for your search term or by using Boolean Operators).
Look at the "Go To" box on the right side of page for Citation format.
Opposing Viewpoints
Browse the Popular Topics list to obtain overviews of top issues. Select the tabs (View Points, Reference, Magazines) to view lists of different types of articles. Select Full Text option to view the complete article and citation.
You can also type your search term into the Basic Search text box and view a list of relevant articles. Review the results list of articles for additional search terms (synonyms or similar terms); look at the Related Subjects box for similar Subject Headings.
Your results list can be viewed by type of publication (i.e., Reference, Newspaper, etc.) by clicking on the appropriate tabs.
You can mark articles by selecting the check-box next to relevant articles and then email or get citations for only these articles.
Citation information is at the end of each article.
eLibrary Curriculum: Type your search term into the search box. The "Gallery" provides a broad overview of the topic (click "Expand Document" to view all information).
Look at left side-bar for options to "sort" results in different ways and to expand or narrow your search.
Select "Citation View" to obtain MLA format.
Points of View (Ecsco): Use the Browse by Category topics list. Or enter a keyword in the search box. Select tabs at top of page to view different types of articles (magazines, reference). Citation information is provided at the beginning of each article or by selecting the Citation link.
Explore other databases based upon your topic area.
For instance, if you are interested in Global Warming or Terrorism you may find information in the database "Global Issues in Context" (under Social Studies); or if you are interested in Drug Addiction you may find information in eLibrary Science.
Newspaper databases are likely to provide information on a broad range of topics. Often you will find "first-hand accounts" or primary source information in these publications.
Website Evaluation Guide
Search Engines: Remember that search engines are often part of a profit-generating business, and as such, they may inject the company's bias into your search results, by ranking articles that promote the company's viewpoint higher in the results or even by eliminating certain articles.(Read this recent article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/opinion/28raff.html?em )
Try using different Search Engines: Search Engines : Alphabetical list of general search engines.
Clusty : Provides a list of related and narrower topics suggestions. Provides a list of links on "Social Issues."
Take This Tutorial to Learn About How to Select Reliable Web Sites:
http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/webevaluation/
Although many websites are valuable and reliable resources, you must be careful to evaluate the source of information. Some questions to ask yourself are:
· is the website authoritative (is the author an expert on the subject, or just a student posting his class paper on the Internet)?
· is the website accurate?
· is the website up to date?
· is the website biased or prejudiced toward a point of view? (It may still be useful, but use the information cautiously.)
For further suggestions about how to evaluate the quality of a website, go to the BRHS Library’s Website for the Website Evaluation Tools
Print out the questionnaire for your reference!
Feel free to ask the Librarians and your Teachers for guidance with any concerns you may have.
Suggested Websites:
ProCon ProCon.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public charity whose mission is "Promoting education, critical thinking, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan primarily pro-con format."
Public Agenda The new PublicAgenda.org is set up to provide both citizens and leaders with the tools they need to tackle tough problems. Note -- this site deals miore with politically-oriented matters instead of personal ones. And it does not use the pro-con format.
Polling Report A site that provides statistics on controversial issues.
Gallup Poll Another site for obtaining information and statistics for controversial issues.
Works Cited
MLA Citation Examples: This link will bring you to the BRRHS Library page, with examples of MLA citation formats.